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I put together a rig about a year ago, and the component that gives me the most trouble is the Audigy ZS 2. I'm tired of Creative's terrible drivers and megaton of memory-gobbling software, and I want something that I can rely on in the long-term.
When I'm not gaming, I'm listening to music. I need a card that satisfies both fronts well. I don't care about EAX. I need a card that has mini-optical jacks for my headphones(MS1), 2.1 setup(, and mic. Is there any sound card that fits the bill these days?
if you are going for a 2.1, then Juli@ would be an excellent choice, since you are rejecting creative products..
M-Audio is good too
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as of 9-14-2008
Headphones: W5000
Amplification: Stello HP100
Source: Foobar2000 ->Juli@
Portable Audio: Sony NW-A3000 with E4C (currently broken)
Used to own: HD650 (original, Carda, Equinox), HD595, Headfive
Do you want to hear an awesome quality of music coming from the analog output of your sound card?
Forget all these EMU things. You must take an Auzentech X-Meridian and put these little gems of LM4562 OpAmps on it. If you're listening your music with 2 channels, i.e. speakers or respectable headphones (Beyer DT990, Sennheiser HD650, ...), then you're having to change only one OpAmp. And, if you want to push the mods a little bit more, do DC coupled and change some of the capacitors for the Black Gate's ones.
Hint: You must not use any sound effects and use ASIO.
I assure you that you won't regret it! The quality of the sound of this card is approaching dangerously of the quality of an "Audio Research" sound system! Ouch! B-)
Very pleasing experience!
__________________
Denon: AH-D5000; 25Ohms
Beyer Dynamic: DT990 (2005); 600Ohms
Auzentech: X-Meridian 7.1; LM4562 ( DC Coupled and some Black Gate )
Asus: Xonar D2X, Xonar Essence STX
Virtual Dynamics: Power Three, David 2.0
Verastarr: Silver Reference HC (High-Current)
Emmeline: The Predator
X-Meridian only supports up to EAX 2.0, so it's not necessarily the best for either gaming or music. Even the not-so-great Audigy SE has EAX 3.0 (EAX 5.0 is the current highest mode). The E-MU 0404 USB is the same price and has the same DAC, but a load of other input/output options. The 1212M is $50 less (or cheaper) and has arguably better converters (CS4398).
The real balance between gaming and music is the X-Fi Elite Pro, but that's way too expensive for most people to justify a purchase.
Replacing sound card; need suggestions
Linear Mode
